The Oregon daily journal., December 10, 1905, SECTION THREE, Image 38

THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND. SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1905.
N LFv IXR I LS
SIO
i - - - - . -. . - i
SflQKT
... . , 1
"At the Last
By HENRY
(Copyright t . . UtCtm Company-)
HEN th quick-rising tropic
un had cleft th. Tel vet
darkns Into long, thin
shadow the .- Baronet - and
the Banker found th Counteas and th
Mat v Already the Inqulsltiv nppi
of the rising tide were washing back
and fortu the skirts of the Countess'
plngea gown, now wantonly uncovaring
the graceful limbs, now deftly smooth
ing tb silk-lac trimmings over the
dainty feet, uncertain whether the filmy
garment to be regarded as van-
ty or abroad. . '
She was lying en her aide, with one
rounded arm half hidden in a tangled
masa of hair that matched the aunrlae;
the other waa clenched in the cold, iron
grasp of Jordan Knapp. the mate, wboae
massive frame waa eprawled face down
ward, hla forehead resting on his other
hand. Strewn along the beach were
fragments of wreckage and the atove-
. vp wbaleboat, and all around waa the
soft, warm 'desolation of a South Sea
Isle. A few hundred yards off the
beach the giant combers, opalescent in
the early dawn, thundered across the
reef and were shattered Into. wavelete
of fairy Jtues. Half way between the
reef and the beach the broken water
swirled around a alender, ttipertng top
mast, from the. truck of which waa fly
ing a torn burgee. When the bubbling
spume of a 'breaking war had passed,
there suddenly rose to. Tiew the splin
tered stump of another mast and alack
enda of shrouds that writhed around It
like sea-snakes. - I
The Baronet carried this plank whit
tled ahovelwtse. the blade of which waa
frayed and splintered from contact with
the hard-packed sand. The Banker car.
ried a sailor's large bandanna, caught up
at the corners, and bulging from the
personal effects that he had taken from
the drowned sailors whom they had Just
Interred. When he saw the Oounteaa a
corner of the kerchief slipped from his
fingers and the pitiful little trinkets
rolled unheeded acroes the shining
eandeT " ;
They tried to pry the Mate's stiffened
fingers from their grip, and as they
were doing so ho auddenly gasped and
awoke. - - .
The Baronet handed him a little flask,
and the Banker took the woman by the
shoulders and dragged her above high
water nark. When he laid her down an
eyelid fluttered. The Banker, with a
beating heart, flllad the hollow of hla
, hands with aea water. The Hate, lean
ing on . hla elbow, watched him sleepily
and divined hia Intention.
"Good Lord! she's ad water enough;
' try a little sunshine and whiskey 1" -"We
thought, of course, you were both
drowned." murmured the Baronet.
"Thought .almost right," said the
Mate; "might have been, ao f ar as you
were concerned. Why didn't you wail
for her?"
"1 don't has T dnn't rammrtra
arest deal of what did happen. The
boat waa atnklng. aa it was did sink,
in fact, before we had taken a dosen
strokes." replied thavJJaronet holding
the flask to the Countess' lips.
"Is ha deadr ahe aaked. feebly.
' "No. dearest! I am here, aafe and
Bound." aaid the Banker, soothingly, aa
be chafed her hands. . -;
oh voui I do not mean you, 1
mean that gran man who plunge aftet
me aa I atruggle in the Ben. Ton you
rn n' laava me to DOliah."
"You are unjust, dear, I thought that
Tnn ware In the boat.
. "An. yes when I call to -you from the
vessel. But I do not aaa you iniai
I ask vou If he liver .
"Tea. Celeste, here ha is and none the
: worse for bis ducklhg,,e aaid the Bar
onet. " . '
"What happiness enon dleu! Je kulr
tres fatlsuee. Why. I have the so great
wish to Bleep r The long lashes drooped
drowsily -over the deep violet eyes, and
a gentle UtUe sigh waa lost In the
soft breese that fanned In from the
The Mate, watching her apathetically,
roused himself from, his lethargy. "Let
her aleen light where aha la. Give me
your coat." Tin Banker altpped it off.
- -' and the Mate folded it and plaoed It un
der the Countess" head. - She smiled
.'." drowsily and reached out a fluttering
- little hand. .
"Ahl It la yon my preserver moa
' cher ami" '
There, there: you're all right now.
. Take a little nap; that's a. .good girl!"
He rose stiffly to- hla feet and stretched
'. ' both great arma above hla head. -
The Baronet looked at hira quIaaleaUy
and smiled.
"Don't you think you are a little
- proprietary la your manner, Knapp T"
;-f'rsked the Banker In a sulky voice.
" ' The Mate brought down hla arms,
threw out hla cheet and stared at him
a moment. The deep lines on .his face
threw darker shadows, and ths heavy
brows came together. t
; "Who's got a . bettor , rightT" . h
growled.
"It eeema to ma that aa X am her
' fiancee"
. "You're a Jim dandy fiancee. What
--, made you leave her on the yacht V
"Oh. well, we won't argue that point.
, Hut Inasmnob-aa I am the owner and
' - - you" ; '
"'"Tea; I am not disputing that the
. schooner waa your schooner, nor tbe
mate your. mate. But you've got no
schooner left, and therefore no mat,'
' j ' Savvy?" , , ' ,- .
' ... "But your pay goes on Juat the nam,"
' .'aaid the Banker. .
"Oh, doe itf Well, I'm no aea law-
yer. 'and I don't know whether I'm en
titled to any more pay or not; but It
' . , seems to me that I am entitled to some
, - sal rare on this little craft that you
abandoned in a sinking condition," and
, " the Mat Jerked hla thumb at the Count
ess, i , .
"Oh. you do, eht Well, you'd better
tick to your pay, young man; fa jnore
tieaotlable,"
The Mate studied the sand at hla feet
thoughtfully. "Oot anything to eati'
he paid presently. . i
"One can ef biscuits." said the "Baro-
rfet, "end there's a spring back from the
bench a way."
"Good! That a worth more to us
than cin- or countesses. Just now.
The Mate took a survey of as much
of the lIand aa he could see. Then hie
eyes Inventoried the fragments of
wr-ke;e slong the beach.
"1'nlnhebltable. of course. Wouldn't
enppcrt a Jackrahhlt so far as chow
goes. And Just about enough flotsam
to ferry one awayl Gentlemen, the Bit.
nation has Ms drswbecks."
"Aw we have observed that already,'
drawled tli Baronet "The Island svcs
of the Ebb"
C. ROWLAND
about aa far as you can see In each di
rection. There la saved from the wreck
of the yacht one lady, five men, one oan
of biscuits, one ,. boat compaea, one
hatchet, one dipper, a Jar of marmalade
and about a dosen matches besides such
unlnventorled articles as may be scat
tered along the beach. -. Have you aw '
anything, to suggest?" t
"Darn little." aaid the Mate, who had
finished his survey. "There Isn't enough
material to work on." ,
"Better carry the' camp to the
Countess," aaid the Baronet. "Ifa more I
portable and. , won't be disturbed by I
moving."
How much of camp have yon gotr
asked the Mate.
"An artist, a Jap mess boy and the
articles before mentioned," replied the
Baronet. - : - -
The Banker aat on the sand, and With
hla ahovel shielded the Countess eyes
from the sun rays. The Baronet led the
Mate to the camp, where they found the
Artist breakfasting on the aunrlae tints
over the aea, while the' Jap, true to his
professional Instincts, was boiling some
water in a biscuit tin. There aeemed
to be nothing beside the water to boil,
bat presently the Jap departed, and re
turned later with half of very dead
fish," some tnollusks and a - large crab.
Jordan Knapp eyed the crab with ani
mosity. - : .
"Don't eook that thing.-1 The others
may bo safe, but that fish doesn't look
Ilka a good convalescent' diet!" .
"Maybe we can boll the ptomaines all
out of him," aald .the Baronet;, "and
when the Countess wake up she'll want
something more- nourishing than wet
biscuits." . A
"Well, since she hasn't been present
at the autopsy, it may be good for her."
answered ths Mate, doubtfully. "Boll uy
the whole business, barring ths crab,
and then thicken the mess with biscuit
crumbs. - . . , -
"Ia the Couoteaa hurt?" asked th
Artist, languidly.
"No." answered the Mate, Shortly.
"Site's sort of dissolved, but otherwise
all taut" ' - -. -
The three men aat down and watched
Jthe preparation ,of the chowder In
silence, Knapp meenwnue muncnmg a
biscuit. Presently he arose.
"I'm aotna to take a paacar. around
the Island. Want some exerciser he
asked the Baronet.
"Thanks, awfully: but rve had enough
for one day, I fancy.- It doean't take
long to do the place. Ton can walk all
the war round It in 10 minuiea.-
Knann nicked, an the eover of the bis
cult tin, and, going to the water's edge.
filled it carefully and placed it in the
sun. -
"What's that forr aaked the Artist.
"Salt" -
The Baronet nodded. "What are the
ehancea of being taken off. Knapp T" be
asked.- - '
"Dam allm. " Accidental, you might
Island a wide berth on eceowv
others on either side of us. Now, If w
could msnage to get to the next Inland
but r don't quite see how w can.'
He wandered off down the beach. -
-When he returned an hour later the
Counteaa and the Banker had Joined the
group asoundwihe lira There war dark
ahadowa under the eyea of the Countess;
but her face waa almost childish U its
animation.
"Nevalr have I taste a dejeuner so
good!" ahe cried, aa ahe set down on the
shell which contained the last of her
"chowder." "Ahl her Is my preserver.
Bonjour, m'aleu. Before I. am so
fatigued I cannot express my thanka!"
She rose to her feet and dropped
courtesy, while the vivacity of her fea
tures softened for aa Instant "And
what It la that you have In the pan-
uelaT" She gathered ber skirts In both
hands and throat out her pretty bead
inquisitively. .
"Something - to, bring back your
strength agaliy Countess fresh-laid
from our farm, said the Mate. - He aet
down the bundle, out of which rolled
several large, round eggs.
"Right you ire turtles sggs, by
Jovet" exclaimed the Baronet
When the eggs were cooked and
eaten, a better feeling seemed to per
vade the castaways. In the hunger none
but the economical" Jap observed that
the Mate ate but one egg.
The Countess dropped off Into a doss
and the other aoon followed all bur
the Mate, who arose and searched the
horlson with a cold, gray, anxloua eye.
Soon he stole away from the others and
prowled the beach, dragging fragments
of wrecks re away from the reach of
the tide, aearchlng shell heap and riffle
for objects of use. Hla hard face light
ened aa, wading waist deep ha dragged
from the water, the sail of one of the
boat and spread It out to dry. Three
oar and a bucket were the next treaa-
ores. Later, he almost howled with Joy
as his eye. fell upon a mass of cordage
and a hatch tarpanlln.
When the others awoke ho set them
all to search for turtles' eggs and any
thing elae the grudging aea might give
up. Th Banker got more .Joy from
finding a water-lagged cask than ever
the negotiation or a loan bad given him.
and the Baronet would , not have ex
changed the Bailors' . dunnage bag he
found for a quarter's rent roll. The
Artist who aaid that he did not feel
equal to Joining In the aearch, amused
the CounteaB by modeling the wet' sand
Into profiles of the other. : "
Only th little Jap, turn by turn and
twist by twist unraveled long cotton
cords from th sail cloth, wove them
cunningly Into a plaited line, bent a nail
from washed-up box, baited it with a
piece of molluak, and. wading Into the
aea. soon hooked a large fish of shining
nue. .... v
Far away on th horlson a haxy bluish
cloud marked the location of an ialand
to the eastward and later In the day an
other appeared to the north. These gsve
foothold to th Imagination and robbed
the aea of its apparent loneliness. The
countess felt that but for these Islands
she would go mad from fear and desola
tion. But she prettied Joyously and
praised th others for their finds, i
When th ahoal-green of th aea turned
to deep ultramarine and the gplden
sanda began to purple they dined upon
the rest of the eggs and cautiously
upon the flsh. for tropical sea food Is
sometimes better to admire than to eat.
The little Jsp appeared with two ripe
palmnuta, gleaned from the half dosen
tree upon tbe Island, and none but he
appeared once more to notice that the
mate's appetite waa not In proportion
to hla efforts. A lean-to waa constructed
of the tarpaulin and the dried aall fur1
nlahed a common eovrrlet to all but
i the counteas, ror wnom the mate eut
1 oil separate generous sites. The mate
t arltoUaiirV.A . V-L- ' T '- - ; : : f
"She Turned and Faced Them PeRantly, Her Back to th Man
aat with his back to a tree and fed tbe
Br with tiny scrap of brushwood.
When all were sleeping the countess
suddenly awoke, chilled to the bone from
contact with the cold aand which' the
aun warmth had long since left' The fire
r.SSJh"".LwaB aJmost dead and beside the emolder-
'of thejln'g aea'tty'Xoraa'nMpTirra'ce'a'WTF-
ward, and aleeptng heavily. Hla great
ahpulders were- -utlload against ths
moonlit sky and aa he breathed deeply
and atlently she could see them rise and
fall against the white horlson. Aa ah
watched, too cold to move, a shudder
shook. ths great frame; he turned partly
on his side and drew In his limbs to warm
hla body. ...'
The oounteaa crept softly out ' and
threw a few sticks on tbe fire. As ahe
allpped from beneath the - edge of her
coverlet a dark object across It caught
her eye. It was the mate's coat and
another glance showed her that he slept
In his thin shirt open at the neck.
8h picked up the coat and held It over
th coals of th fir. When it aeemed
that the heat Wd penetrated every fibre
she spread It gehtly across tbe shoulders
of the mate, noticing as ahe did so that
the cotton shirt waa clammy, from the
dew. Almost aa th garment touched
him th mate was broad awake, upon on
knee and tens as a forestay.
"Oh! It la you," ho whispered," recog
nising her In the moonlight "I thought
that I was In China again with Boles,
and that the river pirates pahawl I'm
haK asleep still. What's th matter
countess?" .
"Dleu! I hav bo cold I may. not Bleep.
Perhaps I hav slept enough in the day.
What pity - I arouse you, - cher ami)
But you shiver In your sleep, and you
fdded reproachfully.
"I don't mind the cold," aaid tha mate,
almost roughly; "and I ought to have
kept th fir up, but I waa sort of sleepy,
I guess." He waa building the feebl
flames aa ha Book. "I'll make you a
comfortable bed tomorrow, countess, built
un off th around and thatched out witn
palm leaves. Seems like I might hav
thought of It before, but I waa busy sav
ing junk that we may need."
"How long 'you think we must remain
on this lalan'T" aaked th countess,
holding her palms to the glowing blase.
"Not long, I reckon." h answered
reassuringly. "We'll start to knock the
pleoea of th boat together tomorrow,
and then we'll work our paaaage along
thla chain of Islands until w strike ao
Inhabited one. Maue can't be mor than
100 miles to tha eastward, and tho na
tives there are friendly.'
"But the boat how without tools may
you make him oea-deBervlngr'
8ea worthy? Oh, there are nail In
th wreckage, and I can chip these shells
into tools; and I have my knife."
"It will be a task like Th Toller
Of th Sea,' Ton hav read that book?"
"Tea: but there ar several or us, ana
w hav a aall and can wait for a fair
wind.. It will be easy enough. Don't
worry. CounteBB, you'll be in 'Frisco la
a couple of months."
I do not worry wnen you ar near,
J Jordan Knapp," aha added softly.
"That's a brava girl," eeia in atais,
patting her hand. "Now you must go
to sleep again." ... .
The CounteaB mao no repiy, out gaaeu
out over th still, moonlit sea. ..
Tha Banker awoke witn a gasp. -Are
you awake, Knapp T he aaked queru
lously. "I'm as cold as death. Can't
you build up that fir?" He raised him
self on his elbow and aaw th Countena,
"If you'r going to elt up -by th fire,
Celeste, do you mind If I take your plow
of canvas? Who'd ever think that it
could be ao cold down her In th trop
ica!' h grumbled. "You know my lungs
aren't very atrong. Celeste, and the first
thing you know 1 11 be. having pneu
monia.".. , .
He tugged the scrap of aall nearly off .
the Baronet "1 aay, Knapp, Just tuck
that jthtng around my feet, will you?
I believe I'm going to hav a chilli Heat
up ' th rest of that chowder for me,
Celeste, I th luck,, anyway I , Tou
bet that the next time I hire any offi
cers for a yacht I'll get men with the
proper licenses, and- who ' know their
business. - It's all your fault Celeato.
If you'd only been content to go right
back this never would hav happened.
Why don't you heat up something,
Celate pa yea arsnt.
Shut upl" growled th Mate.
"Erl What's that?" .
"Shut up, or I'll com over there and
twist your'neckt - Savvy?"
"What do you mean? Ia that the
way f ':
"Shut yer mouth, d'ye "bear? The
CounteaB 'a got enough to gother hor
without your drool!"
Th Banker glared across th flrellt
space, then grumbled off to sleep again.
Tho Counteas gased pensively at tha
moon, and then turned to th Mate.
' He roe auddenly, picked up the Coun
tess poor little canvai coverlet and. held
it to th blase, then -wrapped it gently
around rtr and. drew ber up to him.
"Put your head on my lap ao. . Now
turn your back to the fire so." -
Th fir was behind her, and the
broad chest of the Mate aheltered hef
from the night breese.
"But you Jordan Knapp you cannot
sleen sol"
"Never fear, child; go to sleep." Hla
vole was kind, but imperative. -"Ah.
mon ami. nevalr waa I so com
fortable." She gave a little elgh. and
the eyelids fluttered down. Th flames
grew brighter.
Boon she ajept and . f ter a llttl th
Mate's chin sank on his chest and hs.
too, alept So until th morning, when
the Baronet awoke. .. '
He looked at them keenly In th early
dawn, and the smile that parted hla
patrician lips waa not altogether ironi
cal. i
CHAPTER It ;.
' A week passed, and no arrant sail
clov th distant sky Una. Th supply
of turtles' eggs was gone, and th flah
caught by the Jap seemed a very lonely
member of his species. Th castaways
at but twice a day, and then scantily.
The lines under th Countess' eyes deep
ened, and new ones appeared In th
rugged -face of tha Mat. - He made a
bold pretense of eating, and only two
of the party aaw tha deception; but as
he arew dally mor cadaverous his en
ergy seemed to Increase. With Infinite
toll he chipped some of th broad aea-
shells .Into th semblance of tools
saw, a chisel, and an adie. Nails were
drawn or dug from box or caak, and
amashed ends of the boat neatly splieed
and calked with cotton fibre.
. On the ninth day a bright Idea sud
denly seised tbe Baronet. He called the
Banker, the Artist and th Mat aalde.
"I say,, you chape, I've been thinking
th grub la getting Jolly low, and that
th Counteaa is not getting enough to
eat She's a game little thlng.'and never
whlmpera, but ahe'a going down hill
fast We men hav got to cut down
our ration what 1"
. Knano smiled a tired smile.
"Women don't need aa much food aa
men, anyway. Tou'll find it In th phy
siologies," began tha Banker.
"Tou're right. Sir Henry," Interrupted
the Mate; "we'll make you commissary
offlcsr, and let you dole out the chuck."
Th Artist nodded a moody assent
and walked off up tho beach.
When they had trimmed down the
fore and after fragments of th boat all
that remained to splice was about four
feet: of tha after and about the same
length of the forward section. At the
moat, with the greatest economy of their
scant material, the boat when completed
would not be more than eight feet over
all. ' The peculiar design, after they
had pieced the, fragments, brought a
smile to the lips of the Mate, although
Ita alxe gave him food for reflection.
"Looks like a bait car," he remarked
to the Baronet "or a punch bowl!" '
"Knapp, If you mention that word
punch' I will attack- you with this pre
historic weapon" replied th Baronet
She Would Not Desert.'
V-
wielding hla neolithic atone maul, mad
of rounded rock lashed In th and or a
cleft stick. : - -;'--- "- -
While they worked wearily the Artiet
auddenly fainted. They carried him
Into tha shad, and tha Counteaa bathed
his forehead until consciousness returned.
H-edlrejBjJvujjat he sunlight
which filtered through the paim leaves
over his head In green and yellow bands.
Counteaa," he aaked, presently, "do
you believe lquGod, and heaven, and all
that?" ... - "' "-- '
. "Certainement mon cher," sh an
swered, in aurprla. .
"So do t and I think tJiat Ood must
hav tha artlatie spark, Wr one but a
great master could get such wonderful
aymphonlea of color. Just see th play
of color in th aurf as It breaks, and
consider the accuracy In the values of
bluea and greens over our heads. Who
ever saw a clash or chromatlo discord
In a sunset? Or In wild flowers, or th
leavea In th autumn? Tea, Ood is a
great artist and a musician, and all that
la broad, and comprehensive. Do you
suDDoaa that tha mind that conceived
suoh wonders could misjudge a motive
or direct tho desUny ot souls by a ruls
of three n r
The Countess' violet yes grew round.
"Ah! but you must not try to think of
such mysteries now. Rest mon cner;
aleeo and rest Tour tired brain!"
"I will. Boon," drawled tho Artist and
lastly cloaed his eyes.
That evening the Artist was the life
of the whole party. Th Mate, who had
never approved of him, listened In
amasement and Joy to hla sudden flow
of wit and gaiety. Then, to the aston
ishment of ait Just aa they were about
to prepare for : sleep, he suggested
nravera.
J'Ah. yes; let us . supplicate 1" bon
Dieu!" exclaimed the Countess.
"What rot!" grumbled tho Banker.
"I aay, it can't do you any harm,
you know!" Bald tha Baronet, as one
Inspired by a slid den new idea. '
Knapp ros slowly to hla feet and took
off hia cap. . '
"Our Father"' he began, and th
other Joined In; all but the Banker, who
took th opportunity to clean the Count
eaa unfinished shell of chowder. -
"The Lord's prayer doean't seem to
quit fill all of tho requirements,"
cheerfully remarked th Mat when be
had finished, "but It's the only one I
know; snd, after all, -the 'dally bread'
part Is th most Important for us."
When they awok In th morning th
Artist was missing. The Countess wss
the first to find his writing. In th
sand.
"Dear friends,' It read, "this is to
apologise for leaving you so abruptly;
but I've lost my nerve. Knapp says
th boat can only aafely carry four
possibly five. Th grub Is getting low
and I'm sick of chowderl besides, my
demand Is greater than .my supply.
Love (o all May God bless you and get
you aafely out of the mese! An re
Volr." "
Th "au revolt" waa no-sarcasm. Late
in th afternoon th Artist returned
from the sea and they found him with
his back hair full ot aand, and a seagull
on his chest -
.The -next day th Mate, with' a "smile,
at tha Counteaa, pronounced the boat to
be "sea deserving." Then -they spent
three days In catching fish which they
dried In th aun. It waa easier to catch
the fish now that they had' a boat
Several bottles that had washed aahore,
and the biscuit tin, were filed with
water from the spring, which day by
day was dwindling as th dfy season ad
vanced. Another day was spent' fn
waiting for a fair breese and recaulklng
the boat
They" towed her to the leeward aide
of th Island, where tha Countess, the
Banker, the Baronet and the Jap em
barked. Tbe Baronet kept hla faoe
averted, and when he tried to answer a
question -, of th Counteas' his voice
choked. - . .. "
"I It that yon hav grown fond ef
this beautiful lnlan'T" nhe demanded,
bait Jokingly, half Jn surprise, "J-J-Jor-,
din. what do you make?
boat!"-. . v
"No," said th Mate, Tin going 'to
stop her until you aend a schooner for
me. It won't b very long. This tub
wpuldn't be safe with my extra weight
In her when It breeses up this after
noon." ' He was wading behind th boat
abovlng her through th shallows ahead
of blm. Th Counteaa could not
his face aa be waa leaning over, th bet
ter to throw his weight against th
stern.
"You're all right now. There's nothing
more that I can do. Sir Henry under
stands about th courses, and aa aoon
as you get clear of th island you can
holat your Bail and get a fin fair windi
When you get to Maue you can send a
schooner" f . .,
"Celeste, sit down!" snapped th
Banker. "Tou'll upset the boat If you
don't look out!" .:- x - -
- "Tea; sit down, "Celeste." said th Bar
onet i "We've arranged It all and ; It's
the best way" .
. Splash I The Countess had leaped
nimbly Into th water and waa wading,
waist deep, back to th beach before th
Mat eould Intercept hr. ' . .
," At th edge of the water sh turned.
"And you , would leav J-J-Jord!n
Knapp ao alone, desolated even as
you left me on th vessel? Mala non!
He have stay by me. an' I will, remain
with hira. Think.- mea amis, what It
would be elone on thla terrible islan
at night with the moaning of the aea!"
She burst into a storm of tears.
The Mate -turned to ; her' fiercely.
"Celeste, do as I tell you! Get la that
boat; do you want to make me n
Oh, go. for heaven's-sake. . Can't 'you
aee that you'r . only making It worse T'
1 gay, do be reasonable; why do you
want to maker It so hard ' for us. Ce-
Llente?" cried the Baronet, with a queer
vmration in his vole. - ..,.,'--'
The drooping head came proudly up.
The bare, gleaming arma flashed down
and outward. Sh turned and " f seed
them defiantly, her back to tha man aba
would not desert ber bosom rising and
falling. Before her stretched salvation
and th aoa; behind, th green walla of
her prison. Her thin,' tattered gown
hung in rage, while at her feet the
glowing aanda pressed hot kisses where
the frail satin slippers had worn away.
Th rising trad wind blew her tawny
hair about her face..
"Ton aak me why I remain? X tell
you. It la because that If I go I am
the baa ingrate. This msn hav risked
hla Ufa for m when hia blood run
quick, an' when hi life la low he give
me his blood, drop by drop. Day by
day he starves himself an' he think 1
do not see. Ver many tlmea he bring
m food an' say ho have eat plenty, but
I know It Is only his dinner which he
save, . When I am cold he cover me with
his coat an' shiver; -when I am trlate he
tell me the droll atory, an' say how soon
I will be horn. An' now he hav put
everything of food an' ahelter in the
bateau, an' you ask m that I leav
him'' -
Her vole choked and ah covered her
face with her banda. - ' ,
Th Mate dug his foot In the sand and
gnawed th end of . hla new bristling
muatacha. . '
"Is there any other reason. Celeste?""
b aaked in a voice like the echo of th
aurf.
Sh raised her head and-th sunlight
Shon on her face. Th llttl handa
were tightly 'clasped. t
. "Ah, yea; there " ia mor. I hav
known many men in many country.
many who have th wit th resource,
the courage, the ' heart of -gold. But
never have I known a man who hav
them all, as this gran' man;. and he haa.
beside " sh turnsd and covered her
fice with her hands "moa ceur!" she
sobbed softly. . ' .
"Oh. h I" growled ths Banker, let's
go!"
"Good-bye, children," called th Baro
net "We'll hav a schooner her for
you In a fortnight!" -
He dug- his oar blade In th hard
packed aand, when ' auddenly a feeble
apark of decency flared up from deep
In the Banker's sordid soul.
"If Celeste's not coming, we might
leave her a ration," he muttered.
- "I aay; by Jovel that's so what?
There's some hope for you yet,. ofdJ
man," said th Mat genially to the
Banker. "., .
"Who'a: going to chaperon 'you ' two
until the schooner comas?" asked th
Baronet Jocosely.
"This!" said ths Mat, in a deep-toned
voice. He snapped a cord about hla
neck and drew forth a heavy golden
ring. The blue eyes of th Countess
opened wld. , -
"It was my mother's. Celeste. Will
you wear It for me always?" .
She put her hand in his. , "Tea,
J-J-Jordln Knapp."
The busy llttl Jap, who had been
awabblng th boat dry, leaped to his feet
so quickly that he almost hsd a capsize.
"Eeeee yah!" ha squealed, pointing
seaward.
The Mate'a keen y waa th first to
foaVw the boy's.
"Ball, O!" he roared In a vole that
sounded like a cry of pain. Suddenly
he threw his hands above his head.
"They've come for lust The. other
boat'a been picked up! . What! whet?"
He did a beach dance that would ahame
a cannibal. .
- Th Banker tared out to- sea as If
unoertaln of his part of, the play.
- Close to th shore th placit
watera lay pearly gray, atin
unawakened in th ahadow ot
tha palms. Beyond, the spark
ling waves danced aun-klased
and Joyous with th life of th
growing day. Par on th low
horlaon a widening band of
ultramarine marked th ad
vent of the trade wind, and
over the skylln a pink puff
roee steadily over . the ocean's
brim.
Larger It grew, eourelnr in
th vrak of tha" breese, . and
soon trie darker speck that
marked tha hull 'appeared. On
sh came, . her topsails . shot
with .the flaming orlmaon of
th sunrise, and soon a snowy
streak beneath her forefoot
showed each onward rush. -
"Clos grouped, aa if to con
centrate their alght, - they
feasted with their eyta until
thfr.Counteaa' grew so dim she
eould) not see. . A little sob
Struggled to escape, and at th
sound .. th Mat' and th
Oahkr .turnsd to her. The
eyea of the- two men met In
a look - different-, from that
thrown aeaward. -
"Well." aaid tha Banker,
"there's no need for heroics
after all. We'll all go to
gether, and let's try' to forget :
ml I this chapter, I aay we call;
IsJ I everything that's happened on
this blooming Island off. Ce
leste, don't cry, my"
Th Mata'a arm encircled the Counteaa,
She turned to th Banker.
"Ah, ya, mon cher! It shall be aa you
wish. Everything la off but the ring!"
ahe added softly, turning to th Mate.
"The Engineer's Chriatmis Story," by
John A. Hill. Is next In The Sunday
Journal's Banner Series of short stories.
Missing Curtain Key
- From th Kansas City Journal. . -
ID you ever work around a thea
tre? Did you ever go in aearch
. of th "curtain key"? Uf you
- haven't and some one should
corns to you with tears in his eyes and
Inform you .that it would be Impossible
to glv a performance that night with-,
out having th keyv and that it had been
loaned to tern other theatre, why, Juat
give th party with the tears In his eyes
a merry ha ha and tell him to "Back-to
tha pinery " For If you attempt to help
get th loaned key . surely something
will happen to you. That Is. you will
look ilk a dray or Junk wagon after
going on an expedition after th loaned
artiole. It Is all a Joke, and only a per
son who makes himself too conspicuous
around - a . theatre Is . ever the victim.
Con Hecker, who has been th treasurer
during th summer at th Auditorium
theatre, played It on a young man the
other, day, and aa a reault had to lock
htmaelf In .tha box offic to escape an
enraged boy sit a broomstick. )
TJp at Mr. Woodward's theatre (her
had been, a boy-hanging around 'who
thourht ha knew the business aa no one
else didVand he became iuch"a?nuTsiSneS " ",!
that Mr. Hecker on several occasion
had grown wroth to ' the extent of al
most throwing the boy out He re
membered the old trick, and bo when th
boy was In tha offic he waa aurprlaed
to see Mr. Hecker suddenly grab up
papers, look under tha safe and other
wise aet la a high atate of excitement .
"What's th matUrT" h aaked.
"dbr groaned Hecker. ,"I can't l.nd
th. curtain' key, and If we don't find it
it I a cinch. we won't get the curtain
to work." ... '.,. .;-". ; .' ;
Mr. HeckeV searched for a few mo
menta longer; and th boy, although he
had never heard of a curtain key, also
Joined In th hunt '
- "By George, that-so; w lent It to
th Grand people," said "Hecker. .
. "Ml get It" volunteered the boy.
r That waa all that waa needed to start
th affair. Hacker went out and got a
small log, which hs wrapped up and
gave to the young one. "
"Tak this down to Jason Ratekln,"
ho said. "This Is tbs key that belong
to the Grand, but I don't think it will
do us any good; If he can't find ours
be sur and bring thla back and w will
try to make It do."
He then - wrote Jason th following
not:
"My Dear Jason Here Is a sucker
who wants a curtain key. Load him u0
with something and send him to the
Oillls. Tours in baste, .
"COM HECKER."
' The boy loaded th timber upon his
shoulder, and, bending under Ita weight
struck out for the Grand opera house.
. Ratekln, th. ticket artist met him
with th glad hand and the Information
that th GIUIss people had borrowed
th key, and asked If the young man
would carry, a bundle for him to Harry
Sparks. Tha boy wouldv Jason hus.
tied out and found about 20 fret of cut .
up lead pipe, which he tied up securely
In a heavy covering, and presented th
boy another note, which went like this:
- "Harry Load up on recks or anything
hardy. He ia all O. K. ' JASON."
Picking up the now heavy load that
would hav called for an expresa .wagon,
tha boy staggered off down Walnut,
street In the direction of the home ot .
the melodrama, where be arrived a very
weary and peiaplrlng individuals. He
dropped th pip upon the floor with a
thud that fairly shook th house, and
handed th-surprised Mr, Sparks the
epistle from, Mr.. Ratekln, -. Mr. Spark
didn't hav a heavy tiller to dlspos of,
aa "How Heart Are . Broken" was
needed that night to fill up th OIUIss
coffers. So, telling the boy to wait,
h went out and picked up what brick
bats h could find Iri th alley, and,
taking them to the bllllng-room wrapped
them up In a neat looking package. "
"Sorry we hav not got all of th
key." Bald Sparks. "I think th other
part of It la up at th Century, Glv
'em this not."
. The not was addreased'to Jo Done
gan. treasurer of th Century, and
read:
"Dear-Jo I understand you" hav
our curtain key. Pleas return to boy
and oblige us all. SPARKS."
Mr Donegan added three stags braces f
.. l -- - vuunviiuii, tv nnn
th victim ) reached the Auditorium he
waa "411 fn," and when th1 contents
of the ..various packages were revealed
he was In a fighting mood.
He doean't go near th Auditorium any
mora, at any rate. - . . -
. "What did you dq with all those un
paid bills, Julia T".
"I saw they were begtnnlpg to worry
you, dear, so I destroyed them."
v.'1 . . ': . .
i '